Appleby Wins Second Consecutive Flat Trainers’ Championship

For the second straight year, Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby was honored with the Derby Award as 2022's champion flat trainer by the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA).

The 47-year-old Appleby so far this year has been represented by 150 winners and 225 seconds from 478 starters-a 31 percent win rate-and his runners have earned £6,225,397. Among those victories were 18 European Group winners-three Group 1s-including a one-two finish in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas with Coroebus (Dubawi [Ire]) and Native Trail (Oasis Dream {GB}), a first victory for the conditioner in the prestigious Classic.

The HWPA award completes a clean sweep of the 2022 jockeys', trainers' and owners' championships for Godolphin, who in addition to Appleby also employs jockey William Buick.

“I'm hugely proud of what myself and the team have achieved in backing the Trainers' Championship up for a second consecutive year,” Appleby said. “I'm very lucky to have the team at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin and I'm extremely appreciative of their dedication.

“Winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas was the highlight. It's something that personally I hadn't done before and had finished close on a few occasions. It's one of those races that I was very keen to get on the board. That was a very proud day.”

Appleby-trained runners collected three victories at Royal Ascot in the shape of Coroebus (G1 St James's Palace S.), Naval Crown (Dubawi {Ire}) (G1 Platinum Jubilee S.) and Noble Truth (Kingman {GB}) (G3 Jersey S.). He also took the leading trainer title at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and tightened the girth on three winners in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland-Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf).

“On behalf of all of us at Godolphin, I want to offer huge congratulations to Charlie Appleby on winning the trainers' championship for the second year in a row,” Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin (UK & Dubai), said. “It's a great achievement and testament to his own skill as a trainer – the high points of this season are almost too many to mention but I would point to the three 2000 Guineas with 3 different colts and the Breeders' Cup hat-trick as being particular standouts.”

Appleby received his award on Monday night at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London.

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Moulin Marred By Coroebus Injury As Lope De Vega’s Dreamloper Wins

There was the kind of drama at ParisLongchamp on Sunday that nobody needs as Godolphin's 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. hero Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) suffered a fatal injury in early straight before Jason Fill's Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–Livia's Dream {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) ran out an impressive winner of the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. The Ed Walker-trained mare, who had also won the G1 Prix d'Ispahan here May 29, was prominently-placed throughout by Kieran Shoemark and was therefore ahead of the 21-10 favourite's fall passing two out.

Hitting the front with a furlong remaining, the 6-1 shot surged clear for an impressive 5 1/2-length success from Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}), with The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. “She's stepped up again–fair play to Kieran, we talked about the race for about four hours as it wasn't obvious what was going to happen tactically and then I just said 'do your job' and he absolutely nailed it,” Walker said. “She's not a straightforward ride, but ever since the Sun Chariot he's got on incredibly well with her and we are reaping the rewards for that. She's an eight to nine-furlong horse and I'd love to have a go at the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf–two turns and 9 1/2 furlongs would be perfect for her.”

Dreamloper's stock began to rise markedly with a 4 1/2-length defeat of the smart Freemason Lodge representative Lights On (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G3 Valiant S. over a mile at Ascot last July and it was the drop back to seven rather than a dip in her level that was to blame for a fourth placing three weeks later in Newbury's G2 Hungerford S. Only 10th in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown in September, the bay began her fruitful partnership with Shoemark when third at 25-1 in the G1 Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket in October and it was at that track that she shone on her next start when coming back from the winter to annexe the nine-furlong G2 Dahlia S. at the start of May.

Her dynamic performance when taking the d'Ispahan over 9 1/4 furlongs led connections to point to a mile and a quarter for her next two starts, but her sixth in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh June 26 and fifth in the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood July 28 confirmed that she was being stretched too far. Granted an honest pace to run at here by the previously-unbeaten 3-year-old God Blessing (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), Dreamloper was in her element and when let go showed top-class miling pace to dominate. “She clearly doesn't stay ten,” Walker added. “I blamed the ground in the Pretty Polly and really fancied her for the Nassau, where she was the winner at the nine pole but ended up fifth. The gap to the Sun Chariot is perfect, but there is the ground to think about and she's been busy and had a bit of travelling, so I might just freshen her up for one last hoorah at the Breeders' Cup.”

Coroebus, who had puzzled connections with a fifth placing in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, was being angled out of a pocket by William Buick in early straight as he sustained his fatal injury and was euthanized soon after.

The Revenant showed he retains much of his ability on his comeback, posting a 11.06 penultimate furlong as he gave vain chase to the dominant winner on ground as lively as he can operate on. A repeat bid in the G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein back here on Arc weekend is the next port of call, with the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. as usual on his agenda. “Considering that he didn't have his favorite soft ground, I am delighted with this performance after a long break,” trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said.

Pedigree Notes:

Dreamloper's dam Livia's Dream (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), whose yearling filly by Golden Horn (GB) is catalogued in the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, enjoyed her finest hour when capturing the 12-furlong Listed Wild Flower S. She is out of the Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. winner Brindisi (GB) (Dr Fong), whose listed-placed half-sister La Spezia (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) produced the G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling). Descended from Dick Hollingsworth's Oaks heroine Bireme (GB), the family features another heroine of that Epsom Classic in Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), whose daughter Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took the G2 Prix Corrida. Livia's Dream also has the unraced 2-year-old filly Dreamrocker (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-4, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.14, g/s.
1–DREAMLOPER (IRE), 127, m, 5, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
     1st Dam: Livia's Dream (Ire) (SW-Eng), by Teofilo (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Brindisi (GB), by Dr Fong
     3rd Dam: Genoa (GB), by Zafonic
O-Jason Fill; B-Mrs Olivia Hoare (IRE); T-Ed Walker; J-Kieran Shoemark. €257,130. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Eng, 17-6-1-3, €629,888. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Order Of Australia (Ire), 130, h, 5, Australia (GB)–Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Mrs A M O'Brien; B-Whisperview Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €102,870.
3–The Revenant (GB), 130, g, 7, Dubawi (Ire)–Hazel Lavery (Ire), by Excellent Art (GB). O-Al Asayl France; B-Al Asayl Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €51.435.
Margins: 5HF, 3/4, SNK. Odds: 6.10, 5.80, 2.80.
Also Ran: God Blessing (Ire), Lusail (Ire), Rocchigiani (GB), Goldistyle (Ire), Texas (Fr). Also Ran: (DNF): Coroebus (Ire). Scratched: Mangoustine (Fr). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Coroebus Faces Jacques Le Marois Test

While Saratoga continues to thrill across the Atlantic, the long hot summer of 2022 rolls on with Deauville staging its own prolonged festival to draw the elite to Normandy's cradle of racing. The G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois is arguably the jewel of the whole month and has attracted some notable actors on Sunday including Godolphin's exciting Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). At this mile trip, Charlie Appleby has the material this season with the English, French and Irish 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. already in safe keeping. Only Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) could deny Moulton Paddocks a clean sweep in the G1 Sussex S., but even then the stable had a solid second with Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) acting as a deputy for the missing 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace hero. Appleby is surprisingly bullish ahead of the homebred's hardest task to date. “All of his runs before Royal Ascot were over the straight mile at Newmarket and I think he is more comfortable racing over a straight course, which we get here. We are very confident that he can keep his unbeaten record for the year intact.”

 

What Next From Inspiral?

After Royal Ascot, most would have pointed to Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Coronation S. heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) as the one to side with in a match with Coroebus who looked fortunate to have come away with the Tuesday feature. While the subsequent shock defeat of the John and Thady Gosden-trained homebred at the hands of Marc Chan and Andrew Rosen's Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 8 has raised a question mark, the July Course is renowned for favouring front-runners when the ground is riding as fast as it was then and connections are convinced they have her in the right place for her own moment of truth. “I know she had little bit of a blip at Newmarket last time, but you have to excuse her after the long lay-off and sometimes horses can throw a bad one in,” Frankie Dettori said. “When I say bad, she was second, but she didn't run to her full potential.”

 

No Time To Rest

   Honours are even between the Classic generation and the older horses in the last 10 runnings, but few in the latter category could boast the type of record that State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) brings to the table. His quartet of top-level wins have all come over further, but the pace that he showed from the front when denying Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 15 will take him a long way reverting to a mile. His toughness is also an essential  quality and will be a prerequisite as the 3-year-olds come at him late on here. Joseph O'Brien has been intent on trying him at a mile for some time and feels this is the ideal spot. “He's a horse that's always shown plenty of speed and it will be interesting to see how he can perform at a shorter distance,” he said. “Every day he goes to the track, he turns up and he has no problem leading, like he did last time. I think it's fairly obvious he'll be ridden in an uncomplicated way, whether he's getting a lead or not. It comes either way to him.”

 

A Nation's Pride With Erevann

With the first two Group 1 contests of the famed August meeting going the way of the British, the odds are cramped that this prestige event will also traverse La Manche as the home nation struggles to gain any respite from the onslaught. Last Tuesday's G1 Prix Rothschild saw Goldistyle (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) grab third, but Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest was a stark reminder of where the balance of power rests in Europe with the eighth-placed Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) faring best of the domestic runners. It is incredible to think that the whole of France's training ranks can muster just two representatives in one of their feature events on Sunday, with both hailing from the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. Nevertheless, one is The Aga Khan's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Erevann (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), a son of Ervedya (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who stated his case when taking Chantilly's G3 Prix Paul de Moussac June 19. He has to find improvement from that effort, but with his pedigree it is entirely possible.

 

A Continuing Romance?

Charlie Appleby will be hoping that he can pull off a notable double on Sunday, with Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) taking on the German runners in Hoppegarten's G1 Westminster 132nd Grosser Preis von Berlin. A typical Godolphin raider in this country, the June 25 Listed Fred Archer S. and July 29 G3 Glorious S. winner is unbeaten on turf and all-weather and his trainer said, “We felt this was a nice opportunity to test the waters at this level and we are confident that he won't disgrace himself.” Stall Nizza's May 29 G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft winner Alter Adler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) may offer the sternest threat among the older horses, while the pick of the 3-year-olds look to be Darius Racing's May 22 G2 Derby Italiano hero Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep's Nastaria (GB) (Outstrip {GB}), who is out just a week after her impressive success in Dresden's Listed Sommerpreis over 9 1/2 furlongs.

Click here for the fields.

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World Leader Baaeed Set to Light Up Goodwood

The unbeaten Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the world's top-rated turf horse, will return to the racecourse on July 27 for the G1 Qatar Sussex S., in which he looks set to face the 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace S winner Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

The clash of the Shadwell and Godolphin stars will be one of the highlights of the five-day Glorious Goodwood meeting, which gets underway next Tuesday.

William Haggas, who has trained Baaeed to eight straight victories, including four Group 1 wins, said on Tuesday in Newmarket at a media event organised by Goodwood Racecourse, “We are all set to go with Baaeed, hopefully. He worked this morning and, provided everything is ok over the next couple of days, we are away and will see what evolves.”

He continued: “Coroebus is obviously a high-class horse. Two of ours [My Prospero and Maljoom] finished third and fourth behind him in the St James's Palace S., not beaten far. I was not that impressed with him–and I have to be careful because he is a very smart horse–but I don't think he was at his best that day. I think Maljoom, and I don't think this is just trainer talk, would have won in another couple of strides. At the moment, there is a fair bit of distance between Baaeed and Maljoom.”

The trainer indicated that Baaeed, who has only ever raced at a mile, will step up to 10 furlongs for his next start after Goodwood.

“I don't think Baaeed has much to prove but his pedigree smacks of further,” Haggas said. “He relaxes so well, he has a great mind, and I would love to see him over further at York in Juddmonte International. I remember so vividly when Frankel won that race, it was like a piece of work for him. Anyone who was there, it made your hairs stand up because he was imperious. I hope that Baaeed would be able to travel as strongly and then be able to use his turn of foot. I am very keen to have a go.

“We are just starting to say amongst ourselves in the yard that we need to prepare for life after him–which I know sounds a bit pathetic–because he won't be around for us to enjoy next year. Finding another one is the target.”

Haggas is also likely to run Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the G2 World Pool Lennox S.

“[It] looks the obvious race for Sacred, as she likes seven furlongs and fast ground. We are going to leave her in the Qatar Sussex S. at the owner's request, just in case the race cuts up, but seven is her best trip,” he said.

“We will run only one in the Qatar Nassau S. and it will either be Lilac Road (Ire), who wants fast ground, or My Astra (Ire), who can't have it soft enough. I suspect it will be Lilac Road, because we have had this in mind since she won the Middleton. It is her part-owner Julia Aisbitt's birthday on Nassau day, so this looks a good target.”

As well as the Lope De Vega (Ire) filly My Astra, Haggas also hopes to run Sea La Rosa (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), for the same owner, Sunderland Holdings, in the G3 Qatar Lillie Langtry S.

“She won over a mile and five furlongs at Lingfield last year, so she will stay the trip well. She is very tough and very hardy, but I can't see anything beating Free Wind if she puts up a performance similar to Haydock,” he added.

Baaeed will share top billing at Goodwood with Bjorn Nielsen's star stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who will have the spotlight firmly on him on the opening day of the meeting when he is set to line up for the G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup for the fifth time. He notched his first of four wins in the contest in 2017 and missed last year's race after heavy rain turned the ground against him.

His co-trainer John Gosden said: “Stradivarius is happy. He has maintained his enthusiasm for the game throughout and enjoys his training. We couldn't really be more pleased with him for a chap at this stage of his career, so we are very much looking forward to it.”

He added, “You are very lucky to have a horse or a racemare like that ever come to you, and then to enjoy their longevity and their amazing consistency at that top level. That is testament to the horse, the breeder, and to have that constitution is pretty remarkable. That is probably what has been so fulfilling and the fact he is rather like Enable was. Expressive, rather outgoing, joyous.”

Reflecting on the remarkable career of the 8-year-old, who will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Gosden added: “His first Goodwood Cup and his first Gold Cup would be the highlights. Winning the Goodwood Cup as a 3-year-old and then the Gold Cup as a 4-year-old. He has built on that down the years. There aren't many Flat horses who stay around like him. I always remember when Rachel and I came back from America.

“It is pretty set who the key horses are in the Goodwood Cup. We're happy at two miles or two and a half miles. Stradivarius would run a big race over a mile and a half. So, to that extent, I have been pleased with him all along and we're looking forward to it. He is quick on his feet and agile. That always helps around Goodwood. It is a downward, turning track and he probably enjoys the twists and turns of it. He probably finds it quite entertaining, like a fairground ride.”

Goodwood will also see the return of Imad Al Sagar's G1 Prix de Diane winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is set to line up for the G1 Qatar Nassau S. on the Thursday of the meeting, while Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a likely starter for Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S.

“Nashwa has been very well since France,” said co-trainer Thady Gosden. “She ran in the Oaks and then backed up a few days later in France, which is a pretty serious testament to her. She had a pretty hard race at Epsom and ran an exceptional race. She didn't quite stay but still managed to come third. She has been a bit quiet since France as you would expect. She travelled all the way over to Chantilly and ran a huge race there, but she is coming back to herself now and seems in good shape for next week.”

He added, “It is a huge achievement for an owner-breeder to have a horse of this calibre. It is a very competitive game and a real testament to Imad Al Sagar, Blue Diamond [Stud] and all of the team for breeding a filly like her.”

Of George Strawbridge's Lillie Langtry S. contender, he said: “Free Wind didn't have the smoothest trip round at Haydock last time out, but she came out of that race in great form.

“She has won at Goodwood and is pretty versatile with regards to trip and running style. You can drop her in wherever you like. She doesn't want extremes, but she handles most ground.”

 

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